''Swingin' Easy'' is a 1957 studio album by the

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

jazz singer

Sarah Vaughan Sarah Lois Vaughan (March 27, 1924 – April 3, 1990) was an American jazz singer. Nicknamed "Sassy" and "Jazz royalty, The Divine One", she won two Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, and was nominated for a total of nine ...

. On the second chorus of " All of Me" Vaughan bops in "a quite extraordinary fashion, covering more than two octaves" (from the sleeve notes). " Pennies from Heaven" is taken slower than is usual and Vaughan creates a brand new melody the second time around, a kind of descant improvising on the original tune. Eight of the tracks, recorded on April 2, 1954, with

John Malachi John Malachi (September 6, 1919 – February 11, 1987) was an American jazz pianist. Early life Malachi was born in Red Springs, North Carolina on September 6, 1919, and grew up in Durham, North Carolina. At the age of ten he moved with his ...

on piano and

Joe Benjamin Joseph Rupert Benjamin (November 4, 1919 – January 26, 1974) was an American jazz bassist. Born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Benjamin played with many jazz musicians in a variety of idioms. Early in his career he played in the big bands of Art ...

on bass, were originally released that year on a 10-inch LP entitled ''Images''.

Critical reception

The initial ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'' review from November 1957 said the album was a "commentary on Miss Vaughan's high level of professionalism and ease in jazz environment. Relaxed quality is keynote here as the singer makes the difficult sound easy." The ''Billboard'' review highlighted "Words Can't Describe", which noted that it was given an "especially cogent reading". Mentioning “Shulie a Bop”, “Lover Man”, and “Linger Awhile” as particular highlights, ''The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings'' says that, backed by only a rhythm section, “Vaughan is at her freest and most good-humoured.”

Track listing

# "Shulie a Bop" (

George Treadwell George McKinley Treadwell (December 21, 1918 in New Rochelle, New York – May 14, 1967 in New York City) was an American jazz trumpeter and the manager of the Drifters. Treadwell played in the house band at Monroe's in Harlem in 1941– ...

) – 2:42 # " Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?)" (Jimmy Davis,

Ram Ramirez Roger "Ram" Ramirez (September 15, 1913 – 11 January 1994) was a Puerto Rican jazz pianist and composer. He was a co-composer of the song "Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?)" Early life Ramirez was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico on September 15, 1 ...

, Jimmy Sherman) – 3:19 # "

I Cried for You "I Cried for You" is a pop and jazz standard with music written by Gus Arnheim and Abe Lyman, with lyrics by Arthur Freed. It was introduced by Abe Lyman and His Orchestra in 1923. The recording by Benny Krueger and His Orchestra the same year p ...

" (

Gus Arnheim Gus Arnheim (September 4, 1897 – January 19, 1955) was an American pianist and an early popular band leader. He is noted for writing several songs with his first hit being "I Cried for You" from 1923. He was most popular in the 1920s and 1930s. He ...

, Arthur Freed, Abe Lyman) – 1:42 # " Polka Dots and Moonbeams" ( Sonny Burke,

Jimmy Van Heusen James Van Heusen (born Edward Chester Babcock; January 26, 1913 – February 6, 1990) was an American composer. He wrote songs for films, television and theater, and won an Emmy and four Academy Awards for Best Original Song. Life and care ...

) – 2:36 # " All of Me" ( Gerald Marks,

Seymour Simons Seymour Simons (January 14, 1896 – February 12, 1949) was an American pianist, composer, orchestra leader, and radio producer. Biography Simons born in Detroit, Michigan, was originally trained in engineering and went to work as a researc ...

) – 3:18 # "Words Can't Describe" ( Bill Tennyson) – 4:35 # " Prelude to a Kiss" (

Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was based ...

, Irving Gordon,

Irving Mills Irving Harold Mills (born Isadore Minsky; January 16, 1894 – April 21, 1985) was an American music publisher, musician, lyricist, and jazz artist promoter. He sometimes used the pseudonyms Goody Goodwin and Joe Primrose. Personal Mills was ...

) – 2:48 # "You Hit the Spot" ( Mack Gordon, Harry Revel) – 3:03 # " Pennies from Heaven" ( Johnny Burke, Arthur Johnston) – 3:07 # " If I Knew Then (What I Know Now)" ( Eddie Howard, Dick Jurgens) – 2:33 # " Body and Soul" (

Frank Eyton Frank Eyton (30 August 1894 – 11 November 1962) was an English popular music lyricist best known for co-writing the lyrics of Johnny Green's " Body and Soul" (1930) with Edward Heyman and Robert Sour. Frank Eyton biographyat Allmusic - retrieved ...

Johnny Green John Waldo Green (October 10, 1908 – May 15, 1989) was an American songwriter, composer, musical arranger, conductor and pianist. He was given the nickname "Beulah" by colleague Conrad Salinger. His most famous song was one of his earli ...

, Edward Heyman, Robert Sour) – 3:15 # " They Can't Take That Away from Me" ( George Gershwin,

Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin (born Israel Gershovitz; December 6, 1896 – August 17, 1983) was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs in the English language of the 2 ...

) – 2:44 # "Linger Awhile" (

Harry Owens Harry Robert Owens (18 April 1902 – 12 December 1986) was an American composer, bandleader and songwriter best known for his song "Sweet Leilani." Biography Harry Robert Owens was born April 18, 1902, in O'Neill, Nebraska. He learned t ...

, Vincent Rose) – 1:00 (Bonus track not on the original LP.)

Personnel

Recorded April, 1954 and February, 1957, in New York City, United States: *

– vocals * Jimmy Jones – piano, tracks 3, 5, 6, 9, and 13 *

– piano, tracks 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12 * Richard Davis – double bass, tracks 3, 5, 6, 9, and 13 *

– double bass, tracks 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12 * Roy Haynes – drums

References

{{Authority control 1957 albums Sarah Vaughan albums EmArcy Records albums